Apparatus for making concrete building block



Dec. 15, 1959 J. D. ELLIS ETA!- APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK Filed May s. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 1771/20/79): Jesse D.Ellis Samuel L.Webster Dec. 15,1959 J. D. ELLIS ETA!- 2,916,793

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILD ING BLOCK Filed May 6. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG 2 T I Ma a Z/Wenforj Jesse D. Ellis Samuel L.Webster Dec.

Filed May 6. 1954 15, 1959 .1. D. ELLIS ETAL 2,916,793

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 i FIG.29.

Jesse D. Ellis Samuel L.Webster My 777W Dec. 15, 1959 E s EI'AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 6, 1954 9 Sheet s-Shet 4 m J. e e 1A I Wh m W D .wm 5U m S Dec. 15, 1959 J. D. ELLIS L 2,916,793

APPARATUS FORMAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 6. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet s llllll |||||I jnvenfom Jesse D. Ellis 1! Samuel L.Webster /M r 777M APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 6. 1954 Dec. 15, 1959 J. D. ELLIS ETAL 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 E l G. 2 3.

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PIC-3.27.

FIG.26.

jin/enfom' Jesse D. Ellis Samuel L.Webster f MrW Dec. 15, 1959 J. D. ELLIS E 2,916,793

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK Filed May 6, 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet '3 F l G l7.

Even for:

ESQ |4o Jesse D. Ellis l 4 Sumuel-L.Webster .9 mrm/ ATTYJ,

Dec. 15, 1959 ELLIS ETAL APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK 9 Sheets-Sheet. 8

Filed May 6. 1954 m h w n wmb m am G fi m sm w 1|||r I I l I :1 S u n J G. 1 m n s C n l u w r 2 FT 1 m U A m. A n s 3 7 S I Q a a u, EiliiliL Dec. 15, 1959 J. D. ELLIS E 2,916,793

APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK Filed m 6. 1954 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 so as r hm United States Patent APPARATUS FOR MAKING CONCRETE BUILDING BLOCK Jesse D. Ellis and Samuel L. Webster,

Federalsburg, Md.

This invention relates generally to improvements in apparatus for making concrete building blocks.

The concrete block of the present invention is of the type wherein two solid units are tied together by connecting pins or rods so that a building wall constructed of such blocks will have a true cavity from foundation to plate, entirely around the building.

Building blocks of the above described type are not specifically new but there are many undesirable features associated with such blocks produced according to present practices and many difficulties are associated with the manufacture thereof which the present invention isdesigned to overcome.

One difliculty encountered in manufacturing blocks of the type herein disclosed, according to present practices, resides in properly locating and retaining the tie rods in place in the molds while the concretemixture is being placed therein, the present practice being inmost instances to put the rods in position by hand, as the result of which the speed of operation of the machine is greatly reduced.

An example of one type of machine where hand placing of the tie rods is employed is the patent to Burkard et al. 2,614,308, designed for manufacturing a block comprising inner and outer units or panels connected together by tie rods, wherein the mold is moved into and out of operative position by hand and the tie rods must be set by hand, as a result of which the production of the blocks becomes a slow and tedious operation. I

In a fully automatic molding and stripping machine such as the Besser type machine shown in the patent to Zevely 2,566,787, attempts have been made to install rods in the mold box but this has necessitated the stopping of the machine each time a block, or group of blocks, is molded and removed.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved means by which tie rods can be positioned in a mold box easily and quickly so that blocks of the character stated can be manufactured rapidly.

Still a further object of the inventionisto provide apparatus for coaction with a fully automatic type of block molding machine, of which the Besser machine above referred to is an example, whereby tie rods may be continuously supplied to and introduced into the mold box to be bonded into and to couple together separate molded units without interrupting the continuous operation of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus designed for operation in association with a fully automatic type of machine as above stated, wherein such apparatus constitutes a unitary structure which can be mounted upon the block molding machine without alter ing any of the essential features thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character stated wherein electromagnetic means is employed for picking up the rods bythe stripper units andplacing the same in position in the mold cores.

for picking up the rods and moving them to position in the mold cores, electromagnetic means to WhlCll the rods are transferred and by which the same are held in the mold cores while the mold is being filled.

The present invention has for still another object to provide apparatus for attachment to and for use in association with a fully automatic type of block molding machine, by means of which the tie rods or pins are moved into the desired position beneath the mold box, to be moved thereinto in the manner above stated, in timed sequence with the operation of the pallet receiver and stripper.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, apparatus of the above described character which is designed in a novel manner to operate just below the mold box of a fully automatic type block molding machine of the character stated, in sequence with the anvil bars to present tie rods to the underside of the mold box immediately upon the lowering of completed and ejected blocks onto the pallet chain.

The foregoing and possibly other objects are attained by the provision of an elongate pin carrier structure mounted above the pallet chain of a fully automatic type block machine such as the- Besser machine hereinbefore referred to, for horizontal reciprocation in the proper plane to permit it to enter beneath the mold box between the latter and the tops of ejected molded blocks when the latter on their supporting pallet have been low ered to position upon the pallet chain. Suitable pin carrying hoppers are positioned above the reciprocating pin carrier to feed the pins to the carrier at the proper time and cam actuated electric circuit controlling switches are closed for energizing control circuits intimed sequence with the movements of the strippers and the pallet carrying anvils to present the pins beneath the mold box at the proper time and to energize pick up magnets carried by the strippers whereby the pins are removed from the pin carrier by the lowered strippers and elevated to proper position in the mold cores and there attracted and held by electromagnets forming a part of the structure of the cores.

The mold cores are designed so that the pins when movedinto engagement therewith to be held magneticallyin the desired position, they will be in a staggered relation so that in the finished block at least two of the coupling pins or bars between the molded slabs willbe in a low plane and a third pin will be in an elevated plane to provide a rigid coupling between the slabs.

The tie rods are also of special design to prevent creeping of moisture therealong from one slab to the other by having a plurality of encircling disconnected ribs from which collected moisture will drip instead of moving lengthwise of the tie rod.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification with the understanding that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing of the drawings but may be changed or modified within the scope of the appended claims.

. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a fully automatic block molding machine of the type disclosed in the hereinbefore referred to patent to Zevely showing the tie rod Fig. 2 is a View in perspective, on an enlarged scale, of

the mechanical elements of the present invention relating to the tie rod feeding means showing the manner in which the structure is removably mounted upon the block forming machine.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation upon an enlarged scale of the reciprocable tie rod feeding unit with ad a- Cent parts in Section and broken away and in association with the mold box, the latter being in side elevation wlth a portion broken away to show a portion of the stripper in lowered position therein, the tie rod feeder unit being in its rearward position where the tie rods are lifted by magnetic attraction to the stripper shoes.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail taken in a vertical plane transversely through a portion of the mold box and stripper shoes, the plane of section being designated 55 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view looking downwardly into the feed pan receiving area and into the mold box and showing the pin or rod chutes in top plan together with a portion of the operating mechanism for the feeder.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken substantially on the line 77 of Fig. 3 showing particularly the means provided for blowing out the pin slots or grooves in the stripper shoes.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of'the mold box with a mold core, partly in section, therein together with a side elevation of the lower portion of a stripper elevated from the mold box, and showing the pins or rods held in position in the mold box by the electromagnets.

Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating one method of opening the air valve in the rearward movement of the tie rod carrier to effect the blowing out of the rod receiving slots in the stripper shoes.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail taken substantially on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken substantially on the line 1111 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relation of the electric switch actuating and holding strikers, which are secured to the feed drawer cam, and the cams at the opposite side of the machine which function to operate the strippers and the pallet raising and lowering anv1 s.

Fig. 13 illustrates the circuit diagram for the feeder operating motor, a set of stripper magnets and a set of core magnets and indicating the switch holding strikers.

V Fig. 14 illustrates the circuit diagram for the magnetic starter with the cam actuated switch for closing the circuit.

Fig. 15 illustrates one form of circuit controlling switch designed for actuation by the holding striker on the feed drawer cam.

Fig. 16 is a detail section taken transversely of a rod receiving groove of an arm of the tie rod feeder showing a non-magnetlc liner for the groove.

Fig. 17 is a view in top plan of one of the three rearward arms of the tie rod feeder showing the several different rod grooves for carrying rods for the making of the different types of blocks.

, Fig. 18 illustrates a filler bar designed to be inserted in certain of the transverse rod grooves of a rod carrying arm when such grooves are out of service.

Fig. 19 is a view in perspective of a core member for use in forming or molding a standard size block consisting of two side slabs and cross connecting tie rods.

'Fig. 20 is a view in perspective of a core unit designed for use in molding a corner block.

Fig. 21 is a view in perspective of a mold core designed for the casting of half blocks.

Fig. 21a is a bottom view of the mold core shown in Fig. 21.

Fig. 22 is a view in plan of a full size or standard block 4 constructed in accordance with the present invention and showing the novel form of the coupling pins or rods.

Fig. 23 is a transverse section taken substantially on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a view in top plan of a corner block, a portion of the block slabs being broken away. i

Fig. 25 is a section taken substantially on the line 2525 of Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a top plan of a half block, a portion of each slab being broken away.

Fig. 27 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 27-27 of Fig. 26.

Fig. 28 is a view in elevation of a tie rod of the special type used in the construction of the blocks.

Fig. 29 is a view in elevation of one of the core magnets illustrating the notched form of the end of the mag net core for facilitating the effective holding of a rod thereby.

Fig. 30 is a top plan view of the tie rod carrier.

Fig. 31 is a perspective view of the switch bracket.

Fig. 32 is a detail section of the spring loaded driving rod or coupling.

Fig. 33 is a circuit diagram showing the use of starting and stopping limit switches for the operation of the feeder motor.

Fig. 34 is a circuit diagram showing the use of starting and stopping limit switches for the energization of the stripper shoe magnets.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings a general description will first be made of the automatic block molding machine illustrated in Fig. 1 and in association with which the present invention is shown, it being understood that the invention is not limited to use with this specific make of machine but may be used in association with any automatic block forming machine wherein there are found the necessary units or elements with which the invention may cooperate.

In the block machine of the type herein illustrated the blocks of the present invention, hereinafter more specifically described, are formed in a mold box 10 which is stationary except for the movements incident to vibration of the mold during the block forming operations, the moldable material being supplied to the mold box through the open top thereof by a horizontally reciprocable feed drawer 12 which is moved forwardly to the position shown in Fig. 1 to fill the mold and rearwardly to receive the next charge of moldable material from the hopper 14, the feed drawer being supported by rollers 16 on tracks 18 and receiving its reciprocating movement in the usual manner from the cam 20 which is mounted on one end of a cam shaft (not shown) extending transversely across the rear of the machine. During the molding operation, the open bottom of the mold box 10 is closed by an imperforate pallet 21, the pallets being fed automatically by the chains 22 from a pallet stack in the rear of the machine to a position below the mold box and then elevated into engagement with the bottom of the mold by vertically reciprocable anvil bars 23, the latter deriving their movement from a cam (not shown in Fig. 1 but indicated in the diagrammatic view forming Fig. 12 and designated 24) mounted on the oppositeend of the shaft which rotates cam 20.

When the pallet engages with the bottom of the mold, the mold box is elevated slightly so that the transversely extending mold bars (not shown) which support the rest of the elements constituting the mold are out of contact with the portions of the machine framework on which they normally rest. The mold box is then ready to receive the charge of moldable material from the feed drawer 12 which moves forwardly over the mold box to the position shown in Fig. l and delivers the charge by gravity through the open bottom of the drawer. During the delivery of the charge the mold box and superposed feed drawer are vibrated in known manner by the motors 25 through belt drives housed in the casings 26,

molded blocks therefrom as the latter are supported on v the pallet 21 which is in turn resting on the anvil bars 23.

After the stripper heads reach the limit of their downwardly movement, the anvil bars 23 continue to descend until the pallet 21 and the blocks thereon, such as the blocks illustrated in Fig. 1 and generally designated 28, rest on the pallet chains 22.

The chains 22, which are driven from the main drive shaft 29 through a transmission which includes the chain 30, advance the loaded pallet to the position shown in Fig. l where the forward portion of the pallet rests on the rollers 31 of the delivery track 32 from where the pallet and blocks may be removed from the machine, either manually -or automatically and transported to the curing vault.

The outer ends of the delivery tracks are supported upon a transverse beam 33 forming a part of the machine base structure, which beam is utilized, in the manner hereinafter set forth, to support a part of the apparatus of the present invention.

After the pallet and the blocks supported thereon are lowered to the position where they rest upon the pallet chains the tops of the molded blocks will be spaced from the bottom of the mold box as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, where blocks 28 of one form or type are shown in dotted outline, the area or clearance space being indicated by the bracket 34. This clearance space is utilized in the manner hereinafter stated, for presenting the pins or bars to the underside of the mold box, to be moved upwardly into the mold box as hereinafter set forth.

After the loaded pallet has been moved forwardly a predetermined distance following the stripping operation, the chains 22 bring another empty pallet into position beneath the mold box and the anvil bars are again elevated to lift the empty pallet into engagement with the bottom of the mold. Simultaneously with the upward movement of the anvil bars, the stripper heads 27 are moved upwardly out of the mold box and returned to their initial position illustrated in Fig. 1, the movement of the stripper heads being controlled by another cam (not shown in Fig. l but illustrated diagrammatically in the view forming Fig. 12 and designated 35) mounted on the same end of the cam shaft as the cam 24 (Fig. 12) which raises and lowers the anvil bars.

In the upward movement of the strippers the pins or bars used for connecting the two parts of the blocks being molded are raised or elevated into the mold box and into position with respect to the mold cores in the box, by the strippers, in the manner hereinafter set forth.

In this known construction of block molding machine the stripper heads 27 are rigidly secured at their top ends to and supported by a horizontal plate 36 which in turn is secured in a suitable manner as by means of bolts 37 or the like to a pair of fore and aft bars 38 which are in turn secured in any suitable manner, as by welding or the like, to the lower edges of a pair of parallel transverse beams 39 which extend from one side of the machine to another and engage at their ends vertical guide posts 40 whereby the beams which are designed to have up and down movement, are maintained in the proper vertical path.

The cam 35 and an associate inner cam 35a coact to actuateapair of lever arms .41 and 42 mounted for rocking movement in a suitable manner at theside of the machine, about a pivot 43 to impart to the stripping mechanism by means of links 44 operatively coupled with the cross beams 39, vertical movements in timed relation to the movements of the feed drawer 12 and the anvil bars 23. On the right-hand side of the machine link 4'4 is connected with the arms 41 and 42 by the lever 45 and at the opposite side of the machine a corresponding lever 46 is located, the levers 45 and 46 being connected for simultaneous rocking movement by the pivot shaft 43 which extends transversely of the machine. As the levers 45 and 46 oscillate the entire stripping mechanism is raised and lowered by the beams 39 in the known manner.

As previously stated the cams 24 and 35-3541 to move the pallet supporting anvils 23 and the strippers synchronously and the cam 24 operates through the follower 47 and lever 48 to actuate the link 49 for the raising and lowering of theanvils.

As previously stated, the cams 24 and 35-35a are mounted on a common shaft with the feed drawer cam 20, which shaft is indicated by the broken line in Fig. 12 and designated 56.

The apparatus of the present invention by which the tie rods or bars are located in the mold box in a desired relation with the mold cores therein includes a unitary structure which is generally designated 51 and which is designed to be placed or mounted as a unit in front of the machine over the pallet chains and pallet chain tracks.

This unit 51 includes a rearward or inner upstanding frame 52 which comprises the uprights 53 and a top cross bar 54 connecting the upper ends of the uprights and the lower ends of the uprights 53 are secured at opposite sides of the pallet chain tracks, by removable bolts 55 to suitable lugs 56 secured to the pallet chain track front support bar 57 (Fig, 2) which extends transversely of the machine rearwardly of the hereinbefore referred to cross beam 33.

Forwardly from the upright frame 52 is a similar upright frame which is generally designated 58 and which also comprises the side uprights 59 and the transverse top bar 66 connecting the upper ends of the uprights.

The lower ends of the uprights 59 are mounted in suitable step brackets 61 and removably bolted thereto as indicated at 62, which brackets are secured to the cross beam 33 as shown in Fig. 2.

At opposite sides of the unit structure 51 the adjacent front and rear uprights 59 and 53 are coupled together by side rails 63 which are here illustrated as having the rearward ends at a lower elevation than the front ends and extending inwardly from the rear and forward ends of each of these rails are the rear and forward track flanges 64 and 65 which support the pin or rod carrier, which is generally designated 66, for rectilinear movement in the manner about to be described.

The pin or rod carrier or feeder 66 comprises a plurality of long flat arms 67, here shown as three in number although any other desired number may be used in accordance with the character of the machine or the type of block being made.

These arms 67 are disposed in a common plane in spaced parallel relation and each at its outer end merges With an upwardly and forwardly inclined web 68 which is joined at its upper edge with the long forwardly extending supporting arms 69.

The outermost or bordering supporting arms 69 each has a track groove 70 formed in and along its outer longitudinal edge in which is slidably engaged the inwardly directed edge of a track flange 65 as shown in Fig. 2.

The under side of each web has formed integrally therewith the reinforcing gusset 71 and extending transversely of the feeder through the gussets 71 is a coupling bar 72 which is rigidly secured to the gussets as illustrated in Fig. 4.

One of the rod carrying arms 67, here shown as the arm at the left side of the machine, is of slightly increased width as illustrated in Fig. 17 for the purpose hereinafter set forth.

The outermost rod carrying arms 67 have formed in their outer longitudinal edges the track grooves 73, corresponding to the grooves 70 and in each of the grooves 73 the inner edge of a track flange 64 is slidably engaged. Thus, by reason of these track flanges 64 and 65 engaging in the grooves in the edges of the arms 67 and 69 respectively, the rod carrier or feeder is supported for back and forth movement.

The feeder 66 is placed at the proper elevation so that the rod arms 67 will lie in a horizontal plane to enter into the space 34 between the bottom of the mold box and the tops of molded blocks when the latter have been lowered on the pallet onto the pallet chain as hereinbefore described. Also the position of the structure 51 is such that when the rod feeder is at its outermost or fully retracted position the rear ends of the rod arms will be spaced forwardly of the mold box and of the forward edges of the pallets 21 when the latter are elevated to block receiving position against the bottom of the mold box, this spacing being in practice approximately three inches.

In addition to the bar 72 connecting the several arms of the tie rod feeder the arms are connected together by a bumper bar 74 which is secured across the faces of the webs 68 at the top edges thereof as shown in Fig. 3. This bar 74 cooperates with the stop bumpers 75, shown in Fig. 6, to limit the rearward movement of the rod carrier or feeder,

Each of the rod arms 67 has formed transversely in the top side or surface thereof three parallel and equidistantly spaced tie rod grooves 76. These are so positioned that when the tie rod feeder is in the fully rearward position as shown in Fig. 3 the grooves will be below and within the area defined by the inner sides of the front, back and side walls 77, 78 and 79 respectively of the mold box 10. These three grooves carry rods in the formation of a full or standard size two part block.

In addition to the three tie rod grooves 76 each of the rod arms has formed across the top thereof two grooves or channels 77' each of which is between a central one of the grooves 76 and one of the end grooves. These grooves are employed in the formation of two half blocks in the part or chamber of the mold box in which a full size block is formed. However, when full size blocks are being cast or molded the half block rod grooves 77' are each closed by a filler bar 78' which is secured in place by screws 79 and when half blocks are being molded the fillers are removed and each groove 77 coacts with an adjacent groove 76 in the manner hereinafter described and this time a filler is placed in the middle one of the grooves 76 as will hereinafter be explained.

In addition to the transverse grooves 76 and '77 the tie rod arm 67 on one side of the feeder which has the additional width, here shown as the arm on the left side as the structure is viewed in Figs. 1 and 2, has a single longitudinally extending tie rod groove 80 which is used in the manner hereinafter described, in cooperation with the middle or central one of the grooves 76 and the end groove 76 remote from this longitudinal groove 80 in the casting or molding of an angle or corner block.

When only stringer blocks or half blocks are being molded or cast the hereinafter described hopper supplying tie rods to the longitudinal channel 80 will either be closed or will have no rods in it so that there will be no necessity for using a filler in this channel 80.

In Figs. 6 and 7 the mold box is shown as having two division plates 81 so that, as will be clearly apparent from these views, the box is designed for casting three block un s e h r of t e ing or ea er typ i f s z or six half blocks when use is made of core members of the type illustrated in Fig. 21, Figs. 19 and 20 illustrate ing core members used for the casting of straight or stringer blocks and angle or corner blocks respectively. Accordingly with this illustration of Figs. 6 and 7, the tie rod feeder has been illustrated as comprising the three tie rod carrying arms 67 but it is to be understood that other types of core assemblies may be employed if desired for making blocks of other sizes or forms in which case appropriate changes may be made in the number of rod carrying arms for the tie rod feeder.

Mounted in a suitable manner at the rear of the rear frame 52 are three tie rod hoppers 82 each of which is positioned directly above a tie rod carrying arm 67 as shown in Fig. 6. These hoppers are illustrated as being supported upon the rear frame cross bar 54 by a suitable bracket 83. While it is not required that this specific manner of mounting the hoppers be employed it is desirable that the hoppers be supported in some suitable manner from the rear frame so as to form a part of the unitary structure '51 whereby when such structure is to be moved all of the parts will be moved together or as a unit.

Each of the hoppers has a rearwardly and downwardly extending nozzle 84 the width of which is internally approximately the same as the length of the tie rods to be fed therethrough from the hopper to the rod receiving grooves 76 or 77 of the arms 67 and the lower ends of these nozzles are, as shown in Fig. 3, in close proximity to the top surfaces of the arms 67 and the front to back or short dimension of the nozzle opening is only slightly greater than the diameter of the tie rod passing therethrough so that one tie rod at a time will be discharged.

At the outer side of the hopper 82 which overlies the left hand rod arm 67 in which the longitudinally extending rod receiving groove is formed there is mounted in a suitable manner, preferably upon the rearward frame 52, a lateral hopper 85 for supplying through the chute or nozzle 86, rods destined for pick-up in the longitudinal rod groove 80 in the operation of forming a corner block such as that illustrated in Fig. 24.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the nozzle 86 extends downwardy and inwardly and has its outlet above and in close proximity to the top surface of the underlying tie rod arm 67, the outlet of the nozzle being in the same vertical plane as the groove 80 so that as the underlying rod arm 67 moves rearwardly a rod will be received in or picked up by the groove 80 to be carried rearwardly to the proper position for upwardly movement into the overlying mold box section in which is positioned the proper core mold for the formation of a corner block.

The tie rod carrier 66 also carries an air pipe assembly, generally designated 87 which functions, in the manner hereinafter set forth, to blow out certain recesses in the apparatus, in which dust or cement particles may gather, to prevent the interference by such particles with the proper carrying of the tie rods and their transfer by the hereinafter described means into the mold box sections.

The air pipe assembly is shown in Fig. 7 and cornprises a transverse manifold 88 from which extend rearwardly a plurality of nozzle tubes 89 which, as illustrated, are arranged in three pairs. The tubes 89 of each pair are in spaced parallel relation and positioned along opposite sides of a tie rod arm 67, extending throughout substantially the entire length of the arm.

Each of the tubes 89 is provided, as illustrated in Fig. 11, with an upwardly directed nozzle or outlet opening 90, each nozzle being located rearwardly of the rear.- most transverse rod carrying groove 76 as shown in Fig. 30.

In connection with the particular nozzle tube 89 which is located along the outer side of the arm in the top surface of which the longitudinal tie rod groove 3G is formed, the side portion of this arm, designated 67a, is provided with a longitudinal channel 91 in its underside 9 as shown in Fig 4, in which'the adjacent nozzle tube 89 lies and the nozzle opening of this tube is directed upwardly through the arm rearwardly of the adjacent end of the rearmost transverse groove 76.

The manifold 88 is supplied with air under pressure from any suitable source and a suitable means is provided for admitting the air to the tubes '89 at the proper time in the operation of the machine.

In the construction here shown the manifold 83 has a rigid supply pipe 92 connected therewith, in which is a normally closed valve 93, the inlet side of which valve is connected with a suitable flexible hose 94 which will permit the backward and forward movement of the air pipe assembly, it being understood, thus, that the flexible hose will be suitably suspended to permit such movement.

In the operation of the machine it is required that the valve 93 be opened to admit air under pressure for discharge through the nozzle openings in the tubes 89 during the entire rearward travel of the. tie rod feeder carrying the rods, for the removal of the rods in the manner hereinafter stated and transportation of the same into position in the mold box sections and in the mold or block cores and the air valve will be closed when the rod feeder reaches its full under position relative to the mold box. While any suitable means may be employed for opening the valve at the desired time the means here illustrated comprises the following structure.

The valve 93 is provided as illustrated in Figs. 2, 9 and with an upwardly directed operating lever 95.

Secured as at 96 to an upright 59 adjacent to which the pipe 92 moves, is an inwardly directed rigid arm 97 to which is attached an end of a horizontal rearwardly extending valve actuator bar 98 which is disposed at the proper elevation above the pipe 92 to be engaged by the valve lever or handle 95 as the valve moves rearwardly.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 when the rod carrier and the air pipe assembly are in the fully retracted position the valve handle will stand upright at the front end of the bar 98 and as the assembly moves rearward the handle will engage the arm 97 and then ride under the bar 98, the elevation of the bar being such that it will turn the handle or swing forwardly and downwardly to the proper extent to open the valve 93. Just before the assembly reaches the limit of its rearward movement the handle of the valve will ride off or from under the rear end of the bar 98 and be restored to raised or closed position by suitable means such, for example, as the actuating spring 99 as shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

On the return or outward movement of the assembly, the valve handle by engaging the bar 98 will be turned or swung in the opposite direction but the valve will remain closed and when the assembly is fully returned the spring 99 will return the handle to its normal valve closed position as illustrated.

Any suitable means may be employed for actuating the valve handle but the spring element 99 here shown is in the form of an elongate spring tongue having one end secured as at 100 to the body of the valve and extending outwardly toward and through an aperture 101 in the valve handle. It will thus be seen that the turning of the handle 99 in either direction will bend the spring as shown in Fig. 9 and when the turning force is removed the spring will react to restore the handle to valve closed position.

In the operation of the machine, the tie rod carrier is reciprocated as previously stated in synchronisrn with the movements of the other elements of the block forming machine to introduce the tie rods to the underside of the mold box immediately upon the deposition of the block carrying pallet upon the pallet chain.

Any suitable means may be employed for effecting this reciprocatory movement of the rod carrier and one preferred means is here illustrated and comprises the following mechanism.

The cross bar 54v of the rear frame 52 hasmounted thereon a suitable electric motor 102 the shaft of which is operatively connected through a suitablegear reduction mechanism which is generally designated 103, with a driven shaft 104 which extends downwardly below the cross bar 54 as shown most clearly in Fig. 2. Upon this shaft 104 is mounted a sprocket gear 105.

The cross bar 60 of the front frame structure has secured thereto a bearing bracket 106 in which is rotatably mounted an end of a downwardly extending stub shaft 107 which carries upon its lower end the sprocket gear 108.

The sprocket gears or gear wheels and 108 are connected by the sprocket chain 109.

One of the links of the gear chain 109 carries a lug 110 with which is pivotally connected downwardly extending stud 111.

Fixed to the tie rod carrier 66 at the rear and upon the top of the central one of the supporting arms 69 is a short rigid upstanding fixed stud 112 and operatively coupling this stud with the stud 111 is a yieldable coupling which is generally designated 113 and which comprises the telescopically joined tubular members 114 and 115. One of these members, here shown as the member turning movement of the coupling unit with respect to such stud, the connection here shown being designated 116 and comprising a collar encircling the stud and carried upon or connected to an end of the tubular member through the medium of a cap 117.

The other tubular member 114 is suitably joined at one end as by welding or in any other suitable manner, to the depending stud 111 and the member 115 is here shown as slidably extended at its free end into the free end of the tubular member 114.

Each of the tubular members has fixed therein a web or spider, which in the member 114 is designated 118 and in the member 115 is designated 119 and the smaller tubular member 115 which slides into the member 114 is suitably longitudinally slotted as indicated at 120, to receive the opposite portions 11811 of the web 118 which are secured to the inside of the tubular member 114 so that relative movement between the members may take place.

The web or spider 119 is suitably apertured as at 121 and slidably extended therethrough is a tie bolt 122 which is securely fastened to the web 118 within the tubular member 114, by threaded engagement in a nut 123 welded or otherwise secured to the web 118 while the other end of the tie bolt has threaded thereon upon the side of the web or spider 119 remote from the web 118, the nut 124.

Encircling the tie bolt 123 and partially compressed between the webs 118-119, is a relatively heavy spring 125.

From the foregoing it will be seen that when the driving motor 102 is energized to rotate the sprocket wheel 105 the sprocket chain will turn aroundthe wheels 105 and 108 carrying with it through the circuit the depending stud 111 and the yieldable coupling 113. When the coupling 113 and stud 111 are moving forwardly or away from the block forming machine the tie rod unit will be drawn forwardly and as the stud 111 and arm move around the rear wheel 108 and start rearwardly the tie rod carrier will also be moved rearwardly.

When the carrier reaches the limit of its rearward movement where the bumper bar 74 engages against the stops 75 the rearwardly moving thrust arm and stud will not have reached the limit of their rearward movement and consequently in order to permit the continued movement of the stud 111 the tubular portions of the coupling will be telescoped together placing the spring 125 under compression. By this means a dwell is effected in the rearward movement of the tie rod carrier during the slight period in which the stud is continuing its rearward movement around the rearward sprocket wheel and this dwell period is providedto give proper time for the lift- "11' ing of the tie pins or rods from the carrier arms, in the manner hereinafter set forth.

In Fig. 6, which shows a top view of a mold box, as previously stated, the top of the box is encircled by a horizontal tray which is generally designated 126 having a bottom or floor 127 through which the top of the mold box opens, and a low front and side wall 128. Into this tray the feed drawer 12 moves in the well-known manner to discharge the block mixture into the compartments of the mold box, which compartments are here illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 as three in number.

Each of the three compartments illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 is shown as having in position therein a core body or core unit which is generally designated 129 and is of the form for the molding of a two slab standard size wall block such as that illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23 and generally designated 130. This core unit comprises the core body 131 which has attached thereto and lengthwise of the top thereof the core bar 132 by means of which the core is suspended in the proper position in the molding chamber.

In Fig. there is illustrated in perspective a core unit which is generally designated 133 and which is designed for use in the molding chamber or chambers for the formation of a corner block such as that shown in Figs. 24 and 25 and generally designated 134, this unit 133 comprising the substantially L-shaped core 135 and the core bar 136.

Fig. 21 illustrates in perspective a core unit generally designated 137, designed to be placed in one of the chambers of the mold box for the formation of two half units, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 26 and 27 and generally designated 138. This half block unit comprises the core body 139 which is of elongate rectangular form similar to the core 131 but has formed integrally therewith the two laterally directed division plates 139 which are midway between the ends of the core. Numeral 140 designates the core bar by which the core 138 is supported in the mold chamber and when the core is in the mold chamber the laterally directed wings 139 extend from the core to the two sides of the chamber thus dividing the chamber into four sections as will be readily apparent.

The stringer block 130 comprises the two spaced slabs 141 which are coupled together by the transverse tie rods 142. These rods are positioned so that the central one of the three, which are equidistantly spaced lengthwise of the block, is at a higher elevation than the outer ones.

As previously stated, the core bodies 131, 135 and 138 are hollow as shown in Fig. 7 where the core body 131 is illustrated in horizontal section and the bottom part of each core body is open as shown in Fig. 8.

The core body 131 has formed transversely thereof adjacent to each end, in the side walls the short vertical rod-receiving slots 143 and midway between these slots the two sides of the core have longer vertical slots 144. In these slots the rods 142 are located, being drawn upwardly thereinto, to extend transversely of the core, by the hereinafter described electromagnets carried by shoes of the stripper head sections hereinafter described,

to be held in these slots by electromagnets as hereinafter set forth. The tie rods are of a length greater than the width of the core whereby the ends will project beyond the sides of the core to be embedded in the concrete material forming the slabs 141.

In the L-shaped core 135 shown in Fig. 20 and designed for the formation of a corner block having an angulated opening between the two slabs 145 and 146 as shown in Fig. 24 there is one transverse short end slot for the tie rod as indicated at 147, a longer vertical slot 148 for receiving the central rod and a medium length vertical slot 149 in the laterally extending portion 135a of the block which is directed perpendicular to the planes of th ran ver e slo s 1 .7 n 48- W h t corev t tie 12 rods 142 extend transversely of the block between the slabs 145 and 146 while the third tie rod is perpendicular to the other two and extends in a lengthwise direction with respect to the short slab portion 146 to connect an end of this slab portion. with the angulated end portion 145a of the slab 145.

It will be obvious that when a corner block core unit such as that shown in Fig. 20, is placed in a chamber or compartment of the mold box, the end of the offset or lateral portion a will engage the adjacent side Wall of the chamber to form the space between the parts a and 146 (Fig. 24) across which the longitudinal tie rod 142 extends.

For the formation of two half blocks in a mold compartment the core body 138 has the two transverse tie rod slots 150 and 151 at each side of the transverse division webs 139. As shown in Fig. 21, the slots 150 are each at the end of the core and the longer slots 151 are adjacent to the transverse center thereof.

In the several views of the core units comprising Figs. 19, 20 and 21, one side only of each core is illustrated and accordingly the openings or slots in the opposite side walls of the hollow cores are not shown in these views. However, Figs. 5 and 8 illustrate such slots in the two sides of the core 131 and it is to be understood that the cores for the other units are similarly formed to receive a tie rod transversely of the unit, or transversely and lengthwise as in the production of a corner block, in the manner hereinafter set forth.

As previously stated the formation of two half units in each compartment or chamber in the mold box is accomplished by the use of the core unit 137 and each of the half blocks comprises two rectangular slabs 152, as illustrated in Figs. 26 and 27 coupled together by two transverse tie rods 142 one of which is near the bottom of the block while the other is higher up as shown in Fig. 27, this placement of the rods being accomplished by the use of the short and long vertical slots 150 and 151.

In the stripper head set up shown in Fig. l, the stripper heads illustrated are in pairs and are of the correct form for entering a mold chamber in the mold box on opposite sides of or in straddling relation with a straight mold core 31 employed for the formation of a standard full size block.

The two parts or sections of this stripper head 27 are designated 27a and each of these parts has secured to and extending lengthwise of the bottom thereof a shoe strip or bar 153.

N0 illustration is given of the stripper heads which may be secured to the head plate 36 in substitution for the heads 27, for use in association with the mold cores 135 and 138 as it is believed that the necessary form of such stripper heads for use in association with these cores will be readily obvious. Accordingly a description of the features associated with the stripper heads 27, as hereinafter set forth, for effecting the raising of the tie bars or rods from the carrier arms into the slots of the cores, will be understood to apply to those other forms of stripper heads not illustrated but adapted for use in association with the cores 135 and 138.

The stripper head shoes 153 are each provided, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 8, with three slots or notches 154 in the lower faces thereof and opening through the inner sides toward the center of the mold chamber or, in other words, toward the adjacent side of the mold core 131. Each of these rod slots 154 is so located that when the stripper head is in its down or lowered position and the tie rod carrier arm is in its full rearward position therebeneath, a notch or slot 154 will lie directly above one of the tie rod grooves of the carrier arm 67 as is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7.

Also it will be seen that under the conditions described in the preceding paragraph an air discharge nozzle or aperture of a nozzle tube will be in position to discharge a blast of air upwardly into the overlying red notch 154 to dislodge any material which may have accumulated therein. 7

Each of the stripper head sections 27a (for stringer and corner shoes) has mounted in the lower part thereof and in the shoe 153 three electromagnets each of which is designated 155 and each of which has the iron core 155a thereof in close proximity to or exposed in the top of a rod receiving notch 154 as shown in Fig. 5. For half size blocks, half size shoes will, of course, be used and each half size shoe will have two magnets.

Energizing current is transmitted to each of these electromagnets 155 from a suitable source as hereinafter set forth, through conductors 156 in proper timed relation with the movements of the stripper heads and the other cooperating parts of the machine structure and of the rod carrier arms 67.

As will also be understood and as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 8, the notches in the shoes 153 of the stripper heads are also in the vertical planes of the slots 143 and 144 of the core body 131. Accordingly, as will be readily apparent, when the stripper heads are in lowered position and a rod carrier arm is moved to position beneath the heads and above a completed and a just removed block, the rods carried by the inserted arm will each be in the vertical plane of a vertical slot of the overlying core body and the ends of the rods will also be in the planes of the notches 154 so that energization of the electromagnets at this time will result in the attraction of the rods to the electromagnets 155 and subsequent upward movement while the magnets are energized will move the rods upwardly into the slots of the core.

Each of the cores is likewise provided with a number of electromagnets corresponding to the number carried by the shoes with which the core operates or cooperates in the formation of a block.

In Fig. 8 where a core 131 is shown in longitudinal section there is shown within the core, which is hollow as previously stated, the three electromagnets each of which is designated 157. Three magnets, of course, are also in the corner block core, but as shown in Fig. 21a, the half block core 137 will have four magnets, designated 157m.

Each of the electromagnets 157 is mounted in the core in a suitable manner as indicated at 158 and each magnet is also positioned at the top end of a slot 143 or 144 so that the lower end of the core of the magnet, designated 159, is at the top of the slot and such core is provided with a downwardly opening V notch 160 across its end face as shown in Fig. 29 in which is seated the rod 142 which is transferred from the rising stripper to the magnetic attraction or grip of the core magnet 157.

The core magnets, or main magnets, are supplied with necessary electric current through conductors 161 from a suitable source and these magnets are energized at the proper time in sequence with the energization of the magnets 155 and with themovements of the other parts of the machine with which the present apparatus cooperates.

The tie rods 142 are of'special form or design to perform a particular function and thus provide a block structure having new and novel features which patentably distinguishes it from those blocks heretofore produced and of the type wherein two slab members are joined together by transverse coupling elements.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 28, the tie rods or pins comprise the solid steel body portion 142a encircled throughout its length by the relatively closely spaced ribs or corrugations 14%. When these rods are embedded at their ends in two slab members forming a block the end corrugations will form a firm bond with the material of the block slab which will prevent breaking away and separation of the slabs and the encircling ribs 14% between the inner or adjacent faces of the block slabs will function to prevent creeping of condensed moisture across the space between the slabs from the outer slab to the inner one in the event that any moistureshould pass through the outer slab or be condensed in the space between the slabs. The elimination of moisture which may penetrate the outer slab, preventing it from reaching the inner slab, will be effected by the accumulation of the moisture in droplets upon the ribs 142a from which they will drip instead of running across to the inner slab of the block.

While the tie rods or bars illustrated and described may be produced or provided in any suitable manner it is contemplated that the same be cut to size fro-m a predetermined longer length of the material and it is also contemplated to use a good grade of steel for these rods so that the same will have necessary resiliency to return to their straight condition in the event that they may be subjected to bending strains. Accordingly, if subjected to bending strain no permanent curvature will be given to the rods which will interfere with the feeding of the same into the slots of the mold cores.

It is also contemplated that where the rod carrier arms 67 are formed of a metal which may become magnetized, the grooves may be provided with a coating or lining 67a of some suitable non-magnetizable material, as illustrated in Fig. 16 and as is also illustrated in this figure the rod receiving groove is of sufficient depth to fully receive the rod so that no part thereof will project above the top surface of the arm to have interfering contact with any part of the mechanism beneath which the arm must move.

By forming the ends of the cores of the main or core magnets with the transverse V slot or groove a greater holding action upon the rod is obtained due to the increased points of contact between the peripheries of the ribs of the rod and the sides of the groove so that the rod is more firmly held by the magnet.

As hereinbefore stated, the reciprocatory movements of the rod carrier 66 and the energization of the stripper and core magnets must be properly synchronized with one another and with the movements of the stripper heads and the pallet anvils. Two methods of accomplishing this synchronization are disclosed, one of which is by means of switch actuators rotating with the cams of the machine which effect the timed movements of the strippers and anvils in the following manner.

On the side of the block molding machine adjacent to the switch actuators secured to feed drawer cam 20, an

outwardly extending supporting arm 162 is secured upon a suitable fixed part of the machine frame as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Supported upon the top of this arm is a bracket 163 having the upright portion 164 and the horizontal portion 165. The latter portion of the bracket 163 is positioned upon the top of the arm 162 and secured thereto for in and out adjustment with respect to the adjacent feed drawer cam upon the outer side of which it is positioned. Any suitable means may be provided for making this adjustment such, for example, as the provision of an elongate slot 166 in the bracket portion with bolts 167 passing through the slot and through suitable apertures, not shown, in the arm 162. By this means, by unloosening the bolts 167, the bracket 163 can be shifted inwardly or outwardly, the outward shifting of the bracket being desirable at times to remove the hereinafter described switches from the actionof the hereinafter described closing strikers.

Mounted upon the inner side of the vertical portion 164 of the bracket 163 are three switch units 168, 169 and 170. These switches are disposed in a vertical line one above the other and are identified as the motor circuit control switch, the main or core magnet circuit control switch and the stripper magnet circuit control switch respectively.

Fig. 15 illustrates the construction of these switches and there isshown a housing 171a having a top wall opening 172a through which extends an actuating arm 173a which is connected through a pivotsupport 174a with a contact carrying blade 175a located within the housing as shown.

Carried by and insulated from the blade 175 is the metal bridging terminal 176a which when the blade is swung to switch on position, bridges and electrically conmeets the two terminals 177a to effect the closing of a circuit.

Secured to the outer side of the feed drawer cam are the three arcuate concentric switch operating strikers 171, 172 and 173 which are arranged with respect to the switches to respectively actuate switches 168, 170 and 169. These strikers 171, 172 and.173 are located in predetermined positions with respect to the cams on the opposite side of the machine which operate the stripping heads and anvils to close the circuits for the motor 102, the stripper shoe magnets 135 and the core magnets 157.

As shown in Fig. 12 the circular striker 173 which controls the energization of the core magnets 157, is of substantial extent so that the circuit for the core magnets will be maintained closed for an appreciable length of time during the filling of the molds,

The curved switch operating strikers 171 and 172 are of materially less length than the striker 173 and-the positions of these three strikers on the feeddrawer cam are properly determined for rotation with the cams 24, 35 and 35a so that the circuit for the tie rod carrier operating motor 102 will be closed as soon as thecam 24 functions to lower the pallet anvils to the lowermost position and the cams 35-35a are in the position in which the stripper heads are fully lowered whereupon switch striker 172 will close switch 170 to energize the stripper head magnets and at the proper point in the return or rising movement of the stripper heads the switch striker 173 will close core magnets circuit controlling switch 169 to energize the core magnets.

In the circuit diagram forming Fig. 13 the numeral- 178 designates a standard type of magnetic starter employed for starting the motor 102, Fig. 14 illustrating the circuit for such a starter wherein upon the closing of the switch 168 electric current will be carried from the conductor A of one side of the supply line to and through electromagnet 178a to the neutral side B of the supply circuit. The energization of these magnets eflfects the closing of switches A, B, C and D-to thus energize the motor by bridging the lines A-C. The motor circuit will thus be kept closed as long as the switch 168 is closed.

In Fig. 13 the current conducting wires for one group of stripper head magnets 135 are shown embraced in the bracket 179 and leading from a junction. box 180 into which the current supply lines 181 lead. This junction box 180 may be mounted in a suitable position above the stripper heads as, for example, upon'the beams 39 so that the supply lines for the stripper shoe magnets may be conveniently run to the magnets and the supply line 181 leading into the junction box may be in the form of a cable suspended in a suitable manner above the machine with sufiicient slack to permit the desired up and down movement of the stripper heads.

OPERATION Step 1 the encrgization of the magnetic starter 178, starting rod feeder motor 102. At the moment of the energization of the motor 102 it will be understood that: the rod feeder unit is in the fully retracted or withdrawn; position. The startingof themotor 102'willdrivethe rod feeder-arms 16 rearwardly into the space 34 (Fig. 4) beneath the mold box and above the tops of the molded blocks justwithdrawn and in the rearward movementof the arms-the tie rods will be picked up from the nozzles 84 of the hoppers, in the non-magnetic slots 76 which extend transversely of the arms 67, it being understood that this description applies to the molding of the standard form of'the block illustrated in Figs. 22 and 23.

As previously pointed out the rod feed arms move rearwardly until all of the tie rods carried by the arms are positioned under their respective grooves 154 in the stripper shoes and the adjacent or corresponding slots in the core assembly.

Simultaneously with the beginning of the rearward movement of the rod carrier feeder structure the arm on the air valve 93 will engage the striker bar 98 causing the valve to be opened and allowing compressed air to enter the nozzle tubes 89 and blow out through the nozzle openings cleaning residual material from the notches in the stripper shoes if any such has been left or retained therein in the process of removing the previous blocks. When the rearward limit of movement for the rod carrier is reached the valve will close in the manner hereinbefore stated and will remain closed in the return movement of the feeder.

When the rod carrier or feeder has reached the full rearward position the spring loaded driving rod or yielding coupling 113 will be approximately in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 and the bumper bar 74 .will be in contact with the stops 75 so that no further rearward movement of the feeder can take place. Continued movement of the chain, however, will effect the telescoping together of the parts of the driving rod until the connection between the chain and the rod has moved around the sprocket gear thereby providing a slight pause or dwell between the rearward and forward movements of the rod feeder and at the end of this dwell period the chain 109, through the rod or yieldable coupling-113 will then effect reverse movement of the rod feeder to withdraw the arms from under the mold box.

As the feeder arms are being withdrawn frornnnder the mold box and returned to their starting position, the rod grooves which are open for use will receive a fresh supply of tie rods from the supply hopper nozzles as will be readily apparent.

When the rod feeder unitor feeder arms thereof have been withdrawn to the full outward position the switch holding cam 171 which has maintained. the adjacent.

switch 168 closed during this time, will disengage the switch allowing the motorcircuit to be opened and thus stopping the operation of the feeder drive motor.

The feeder drive motor is of the high torque type which allows for instant starting and equipped witha magnetic brake for instant stopping.

Step 2' At the instant the feeder arms of the rod carrier have reached their full rearward position as above stated the switch closing striker 172 will effect the closing of switch,

scription of the operation of the machine cams which effect the up and down movement of the stripper heads the further lifting of the magnetically held, tierods together with thestripper head assembly to bring the tie rods into contact with themain'core magnets 157 is effected byrotation of the head raising-cam which is the 17 cam 35 illustrated in Fig. l2 which, as previously stated, is located at the rightside of the block molding machine, as viewed from the front, and is car ried on the same shaft as the hereinbefore mentioned feed drawer cam, :gvbich shaft is indicated'by the reference character 50 in When the stripper assembly and shoe magnets carried thereby have lifted all of the tie rods to the tops of the mold core slots 143 and 144, or theother slots of the other mold cores shown in Figs. 20 and 21 if such other mold cores are being used, the switch holding striker 172 will disengage the adjacent switch 170, opening the shoe magnet circuits and deenergizing the magnets.

" Step-3 Immediately preceding the deenergizatio'n of the shoe magnets and the stripper heads and the contact of the tie rods with the main core magnets 157, a third switch actuating striker, designated 173, located on the feed drawer cam will engage and close switch 169 to effect the energization of the main magnets 157 located in the mold core. These main mold coremagnets will be of sufficient strength to securely hold the tie rods in position in the slots of the mold core member during the filling of the mold box and the vibration of the mold. I I

At the end'ofthe vibrating cycle and immediately before the stripping action begins (which stripping action is efiected by the lowering action of the pallet receiver cam 24, together with the pressing action of stripping cam 35a which is located at the inner side of the group of cams shown in Fig. 12) the switch striker 173 will release the switch 169 to effect the deenergization of the main magnets 157. t

The block machine will now complete the stripping action automatically or in the well known manner, that is, the block supporting pallet 21 with the finished blocks thereon will be lowered onto the pallet chains 22. At this time the block machine and the rod feeder or carrier structure are in the positions stated at the beginningof Step 1 of the-description of the operation ready for repetition of the cycle. I i

The cycles of the block machine and of the rod feeder mechanism are fully synchronized, as at all times, as hereinbefore stated, and the length of the cycle maybe varied to suit the operator of the machine, normally ten to fifteen seconds, depending on the nature of the aggregate, etc. 7

In the preceding description of the circuit controlling switches and actuating strikers and in describing the operation of the machine a disclosure has been made of a single switch in the circuits for the motor 102, the shoe magnets 135 and the main or core magnets 157. However, an alternative control circuit arrangement may be employed for starting and stopping the motor 102 and for energizing and deenergizing the shoe magnets, as

shown in Figs. 33 and 34, where a starting switch is momentarily closed to energize the circuit which is magnetically maintained closed or energized and a limit switch is employed for opening the circuit at the end of the desired time period.

Fig. 33 illustrates the circuit lay-out for carrying out the alternative method of operating the feeder motor- 102, wherein the reference character 178a generally designates a magnetic starter for the motor 102.

As will be understood in a magnetic starter of this character when the electromagnets E are energized the circuit closing contacts A, B, C and D will be brought together and the motor will be started. The motor may be stopped by deenergizing the magnets E.

Connected in series with the terminals 1 and 2 of the starter is a normally closed limit switch 181 which is mounted upon the frame 58 or in any other convenient position to be engaged and opened by a striker 182 carried by the chain 109 when the operation of the motor 102' is to'be stopped.

Connected in bridge across the terminal 2 between the terminals 1 and 3 is a normally open limit switch 183 which may be mounted upon the bracket 163 in position to be struck at the proper time by an actuating striker 184 carried by the feed drawer cam.

In carrying out Step 1 employing this alternative circuit arrangement, when the block machine has completed the stripping action, that is, when the pallet receiver and stripper head are in full down position, the striker 184 on the feed drawer cam closes the normally open limit switch 183' energizing the magnetic starter and starting the rod feeder motor 102, driving the feeder arms and tie rods under moldand out again. When the feeder arms have been withdrawn to starting position the striker 182 attached to the feeder chain 109 will engage the limit switch 181 and momentarily open it, thereby de-energizing the electromagnets E of the magnetic starter which will permit automatic opening of the switches A, B, C' and D in the well known manner, thus stopping the motor 102.

The energization of the stripper shoe magnets by the alternative circuit employing two limit switches is illustrated in Fig. 34 wherein a magnetic starter 17811 is illustrated in proper relation to the junction box to transmit electric current to the junction box when the electromagnets E of the starter are energized.

As will be seen in this circuit the normally closed limit switch 185 and the normally open limit switch 186 are used in the same relation as in the motor control circuit.

In carrying out the second step in the operation of the machine using this circuit set up, when the rod feeder arms have reached the full position. with the tie rods under their respective grooves in the stripper shoes, a striker 187 on the rod carrier .will momentarily close the normally open switch'186 to put current through the magnetic starter toelfect the closing of the switches or contacts A, B and D, the current, of course, passing through the electromagnets E to effect this operation. The circuit will then be maintained'through the normally closed switch 185 to keep the electromagnets energized. This will effect the energization of the shoe magnets so that the tie rods will belifted from the feeder arms.

The shoe magnets will remain energized and will hold the tie rods, until the block machine has functioned to elevate the stripper heads to a position where the tie rods are brought into contact with the main magnets in the core assembly. At this time a striker 188 properly located on the feed drawer cam will effect the opening of the normally closed limit switch 185 to deenergize the shoe magnets. The third step will be performed in the same manner as the description hereinbefore given, the main magnets being energized in the manner previously stated at the proper instant to take over the function of holding the tie rods in the slots of the core elements.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that there is provided by the present invention a novel rod feeding apparatus of relative simplicity which provides a new means for effecting the installation of tie rods in blocks of the character stated to couple together the inner and outer slabs thereof. More particularly the invention provides an apparatus which completely solves the problem of introducing such tie rods into the mold box of the machine of the type herein set forth which employs the vertically movable stripper heads in association with a'pallet raising and lowering means for the blocks, in an eflicient manner which permits the machine to be operated without reduction in its speed or rate of block output,

We claim:

1. In combination with a block molding machine having a mold box provided with an open top and an open bottom, a stripper head normally positioned above said i9 mold box but being vertically reciprocable with respect thereto and including depending portions projectible through said mold box to eject a block therefrom, means for raising and lowering a pallet plate relative to the bottom of the mold box, and a mold core in said box; locating means for positioning reinforcement rods below the open bottom of said box and above said means for raising and lowering a pallet plate, means on the lower ends of said depending portions of the stripper head for picking up such reinforcement rods when said depending portions are projected through said mold box and for raising the rods into the confines of the mold box as said stripper head is raised, and means on said mold core for arresting the upward movement of the reinforcement rods and holding the reinforcement rods in fixed relation within the mold box. I

2. The combination with a block molding machine wherein there is a mold box having an open bottom, a stripper head having vertical reciprocation over and relative to said box and including depending portions projectible through said mold box, and means for raising and lowering a pallet plate relative to the bottom of said box; of a mold core in the box, means forming a part of the core for facilitating the locating in a fixed position in the box relative to the core of a metal rod member designed to be at least partially embedded in a molded block, means carried by said depending portions of the stripper for raising the rod into said position during rising movement of the stripper and then releasing the rod, and other means carried by said mold core functioning upon release of the rod by the stripper for holding the rod in said position while the mold box is receiving molding material.

3. The. combination with a block molding machine wherein there is a mold box having an open bottom, a stripper head having,veitical reciprocation over and relative to said box and including depending portions projectable through said mold box, and means for raising and lowering a pallet plate relative to the bottom of said box; of a mold core in the box designed to mold a block with an open space between two side portions, a tie rod adapted to be connected across said space with its ends embedded in said portions, said mold core having a slot adapted to receive the tie rod, means forintroducing the rod to a position beneath the open bottom of the box 'in line with the slot in the mold core, means carried by said depending portions of the stripper head for picking up the rod from said means for introducing the rod when the stripper head is in a lowered position and raising the rod into the core slot as said stripper head is raised, and means on said mold core for releasably holding the rod in the slot while the mold box is receiving block molding material.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein the means for introducing the rod includes a carrier body, means supporting the carrier body for horizontal move: ment in a plane lying immediately below the mold box, and means for moving said carrier body back and forth in timed relation with the vertical movements of the stripper head and said means for raising and lowering a pallet plate.

5. The invention according to claim 3, wherein said means carried by the depending portions of the stripper head comprises an electromagnet, and the means for-releasably holding the'rod in the slot comprises an electromagnet, and means for synchronizing the movement'of said means for introducing the rod and the energization of the electromagnets with the movements of the pallet plate raising and lowering means and the raising and lowering movements of the stripper head whereby the rod is introduced immediately the pallet plate means and the stripper head are in their lowestpositions.

6. The combination with a block molding machine of a type having a mold box, a verticallyreciprocable means thereover for carrying stripper heads, and vertically mov- 2O able anvils below the mold box for raising a pallet plate to the bottom of the box and lowering it onto pallet chains movable horizontally toward the front of the machine; of apparatus for forming a block comprising two spaced slabs coupled together by a tie rod, said apparatus including a tie rod feeder comprising an elongate fiat member, means supporting the feeder member at the front of the machine above the pallet chains for reciprocal movement in a plane lying beneath and in close proximity to the bottom of the mold box, said feeder member being located in a position to extend under the mold box when moved toward the rear of the machine, means for moving the feeder member from a starting position to a rearward position under the mold box and returning the feeder member to starting position, means on the feeder member for carrying a tie rod to a fixed position beneath the mold box, a mold core in the mold box, a stripper head on the stripper head carrying means, means for synchronizing the movements of the feeder member with the movements of the stripper head whereby a tie rod is in said predetermined position when the stripper head is in its lowermost position in the mold box, means carried by the stripper head for removing the tie rod from the feeder member and elevating it to a fixed position in the mold box relative to the mold core, and means for taking the tie rod-from the stripper head and retaining it in the mold box after thestripper head has reached a position above the mold box and while the mold box is being filled with block molding material.

7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein the mold core has a downwardly opening slot into which the tie rod is moved by the stripper head.

1 8. The invention according to claim 6, with means for creating a dwell in the movement of the tie rod feeder member at the limit of its rearward movement while the tie rod-isbein'g removed by the stripper head.

9. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said tie rod feeder supporting means comprisesa frame structure upon which the means for moving the feeder member is mounted, said frame structure being removably secured at'the front of the machine.

10. The invention according to claim 6, with a tie rod hopper having a downwardly directed nozzle formed to permit one tie rod at a time to pass therethrough and means supporting the hopper above the plane of movement of the feeder member with the nozzle outlet in close proximity to the top of the 'feeder member to deliver a tie-rod to the tie rod carrying means as the latter moves beneath the nozzle.

11. The invention according to 'claim 6, wherein said stripper head carrier means comprises magnets positioned to attract the tie rod at'the'ends thereof.

12. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the stripper head comprises two spacedparts between which the mold core is positioned when the stripper head is in its lowered position, and'said stripper head carrier means comprises a magnet carried by each of the said parts thereof and positioned 'to attract the tie rod at the ends thereof to raise the same into the "mold core slot upon the upward movement of the stripper head.

, 13. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the stripper head comprisestwo spaced parts between which the mold core is positioned when the stripper head is in its lowered position, and said stripper head carrier means comprises a magnet carried by each of the said parts thereof and positioned to attract the tie rod at the ends thereof to raise the same into the mold core slot upon the upward movement of the stripper-head, and the said means for taking the tie rod' from the stripper head comprises a magnet carried by the mold core at the upper end of the'slot.

14. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the stripper head comprises two spaced parts between which the mold core is positioned when the stripper h'ead is in its lowered position, and said stripper head carrier means Q 21 comprises a magnet carried by each of the said parts thereof and positioned to attract the tie rod at the ends thereof to raise the same into themold core slot upon the upward movement of the stripper head, and the said means for taking the tie rod from the stripper head comprises a magnet carried by the mold core at the upper end of the slot, said magnets being of the type to be electrically energized during the operation of the machine, and means for energizing the magnets in timed relation with the movements of the stripper relative to the mold core whereby the stripper head magnets will be energized at the time the stripper head is in lowered position and deenergized when the tie rod has been lifted to the top of the mold core slot and the mold core magnet will be energized slightly ahead of the deenergization of the stripper head magnets and held energized until the mold box has been filled and the molded block is ready to be stripped from the mold box.

15. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the stripper head comprises two spaced parts between which the mold core is received when the stripper head is in lowered position, each of said parts including a shoe, said shoes having downwardly opening slots in which the ends of the tie-rod are received, said stripper head carrier means comprising a magnet lying above each slot to attract an end of the tie rod, and means for injecting a blast of air into said shoe slots to remove adhering material therefrom.

16. The invention according to claim 7, wherein the stripper head comprises two spaced parts between which the mold core is received when the stripper head is in lowered position, each of said parts including a shoe, said shoes having downwardly opening slots in which the ends of the tie-rod are received, said stripper head carrier means comprising a magnet lying above each slot to attract an end of the tie-rod, and means carried by the feeder for discharging a blast of air into said shoe slots when the stripper head is in lowered position to remove adhering material therefrom.

17. The combination with a block molding machine of a type having a mold box, a vertically reciprocable means thereover for carrying stripper heads, and vertically movable anvils below the mold box for raising a pallet plate to the bottom of the box and lowering it onto pallet chains movable horizontally toward the front of the machine; of apparatus for forming a building block comprising two spaced slabs coupled together by a tie rod, said apparatus comprising a supporting structure adapted to be positioned at the front of the machine, a pair of track members secured to opposite sides of the structure and extending longitudinally of the pallet chains, a tie rod feeder comprising an elongate fiat body having a width slightly less than the length of a tie rod, means connecting opposite longitudinal sides of the feeder to the track members for reciprocal movement thereon, said feeder being supported to reciprocate in a plane passing under the mold box between the latter and the top of a block removed on a pallet plate onto the pallet chain, means carried by the feeder body for receiving a tie rod and carrying the same to a predetermined position beneath the mold box, mechanism carried by said structure and operatively coupled with the feeder for effecting the reciprocation of the latter, means carried by the said structure for supplying tie rods to the said receiving means on the feeder, a mold core in the mold box, means carried by the mold core for receiving a tie rod in a predetermined position in the mold box whereby the ends of the tie rod will be embedded in slab molding material introduced into the mold box, a stripper head secured to said head carrying means and including spaced members adapted to enter the mold box on opposite sides of the mold core, each of said members having a shoe in the bottom part provided with notches adapted to receive the ends of a tie rod, electromagnetic means above each of said notches for attracting an end of a tie rod thereinto, means for effecting "energization of said electromagnets when the stripper head is in lowered position to lift a tie rod from the feeder and locate it in the receiving means of the mold core upon upward movement of the stripper head, means for denergizing the electromagnets upon positioning of the tie rod in the mold core receiving means, and means for removably securing the released tie rod in the mold .core receiving means and holding it while the mold box is being filled.

18. The invention according to claim 17, wherein said feeder operating mechanism is electrically operated, electric circuit controlling means for said mechanism, and means carried by a moving part of the machine for actuating the said circuit controlling means to start and stop said mechanism in timed relation with the movements of the stripper head and the anvils.

19. The invention according to claim 18, wherein the said electrically operated feeder mechanism includes an electric motor, a sprocket wheel connected with and rotated by the motor, a second sprocket wheel on the supporting structure and horizontally spaced forwardly from the first wheel and above the feeder, a chain drive coupling the sprocket wheels and a coupling member between the chain and feeder.

20. The invention according to claim 18, wherein the said electrically operated feeder mechanism includes an electric motor, a sprocket wheel connected with and rotated by the motor, a second sprocket wheel on the supporting structure and horizontally spaced forwardly from the first wheel and above the feeder, a chain drive coupling the sprocket wheels and a spring loaded driving coupling member between the chain and feeder, and means for checking the tie rod delivering rearward movement of the feeder before the driving coupling member has reached its limit of rearward movement whereby said driving member yields to permit a dwell in the feeder movement preceding its withdrawal from beneath the mold box.

21. The invention according to claim 17, wherein the last named means comprises an electro-magnet, and means for energizing the last named electromagnet slightly in advance of said deenergization of the first named electromagnets and deenergizing said last named electromagnet in advance of the lowering of the stripper head for stripping a molded block from the mold box.

22. The invention according to claim 17, with means for removing adhering material from said shoe notches by air blast when the stripper head shoes are in position for attracting the tie rod from the feeder.

23. The invention according to claim 17, with air pipes carried by said fiat feeder body at opposite sides thereof to be carried therewith beneath the mold box, an air discharge nozzle for each pipe positioned to discharge upwardly into said shoe notches when the stripper head shoes are in position for attracting the tie rod from the feeder, and means for delivering air under pressure to said pipes during rearward travel of the feeder.

24. In combination with a cement block making machine having a mold form including a mold core therewithin and a vertically reciprocable stripper head including depending portions projectible through said mold form for ejecting blocks from the mold form; apparatus for presenting tie rods to the mold for introduction into the form, said apparatus embodying a frame structure for disposition adjacent to the machine, a tie rod feeder including an elongate rod support member, means supporting the feeder on the frame for reciprocal movement for extending the rod support member beneath and retracting it from the mold form, means for depositing a tie rod on the support member when the latter is retracted, mechanism for effecting the reciprocatory movement of the feeder, means for effecting a dwell in said reciprocatory movement when the rod support member is in the extended position while the tie rod is being removed therefrom, mechanism carried by said depending portions of 

